Peru: Archeologists discover civilization

Archeologists in Peru have discovered evidence of the oldest urban society in the America.

The "Norte Chico" (Little North) region along the Peruvian coast contains the earliest known evidence of a cohesive, large-scale and organized society in the Andean region, the journal Nature reported in its Dec. 23 issue.

Researchers at the site said the find shows a "widespread civilization" had flourished 5,000 years ago and contained a number of pyramids.

"This area is one of the world's 'cradles of civilization,'" said John Yellen, program manager at the National Science Foundation, which partially funded the study. "So this project's evidence of a highly developed, widespread society earlier than had been thought is very important. It provides new insight into the pathways that led to the development of complex societies."

© Copyright 2004 by United Press International